Cousin's in Time: Part III

Ch 11

September 6, 1885

8:45 p.m.

Doc's POV

Marty, Annie, and I were at the old silver mine getting the De Lorean ready for tomorrow.

I went over to them and stated, "Marty, Annie. I'm not going back with you two tomorrow. I've decided to stay here."

Marty and Annie both jumped up and blurted out in unison, "What?"

Marty pulled out the picture that they brought with them from 1955 and said, "Doc, this is tombstone is in your future!"

Annie added, "You're still in danger as long as you stay here!" I pointed out the oblivious, "Marty, Annie there is no denying the oblivious. I'm in love with Clara."

Annie slapped her head up against her forehead and responded, "Doc, that's great and everything but you don't belong here!"

Marty nodded and added, "None of us do!"

I frowned and said, as I was going over to the De Lorean, "The future isn't written. It can be changed; you know that! Anyone can make their future whatever they want it to be. I can't let this one little photograph determine my entire destiny. I know I have a nephew back in 1985 named Terrance Turner but I'll never get to know him." Which was true since my sisters' husband never liked me and they lived in Dimmsdale. I added, "I have to live my life according to what I believe is right...in my heart."

Marty shook his head and responded, "We know about Terrance, Doc. We're not arguing that but you're a scientist!"

Annie added, "So you tell us what's right..." She pointed towards her head and finished, "Up here."

I answered, sighing, "You two are right." I pulled a switch and the De Lorean rolled onto the tracks smoothly. I softly said, "I've to tell her goodbye at least."

Marty looked at me sincerely and told me, "C'mon...Doc...I mean, think about it...what are you going to say to her? I got to go back to the future? I mean, she's not going to understand that, Doc."

Annie added, "How long we have been with you and we don't even understand it? Listen. Maybe we could...I don't know, maybe we could just take Clara with us."

My heart skipped a beat. Did Annie just offer me to bring Clara to the future? That could be disastrous!

I turned to them and explained, "To the future? You've reminded me, Marty and Annie, I'm a scientist so I must be scientific about this. I cautioned you about disruption of the continuum for your own personal benefit therefore I must do no less. We will proceed as planned, and as soon as we return to 1985 we'll destroy this infernal machine. Traveling through time has become much too painful."

Annie and Marty's faces fell.

I heard Marty whisper to Annie, "Do we have a plan b?"

I heard Annie whisper back, "We're way past b. We're more on d."

We all turned in and Marty and Annie eventually fell asleep. Marty was sleeping in an awkward position. I offered wondered how the hell that kid could sleep like that. Annie was sound asleep on her back. I noticed that Marty's left hand, without him knowing it, took Annie's right hand. I saw both of them smile at that. I couldn't help but wonder if they were still awake. Nope, they were both sound asleep. I looked at them and then at the pin Clara gave me. I decided to go to her house and tell her the news. I took my horse and rode off. I knocked on her door and she emerged.

She smiled at me and asked, "Why, Emmet. What are you doing here?"

I swallowed hard and started to explain everything but she slapped me, not believing a word I told her. My heart broke in two and I went to the bar. Normally, I can't touch a sip of liquor. If I do, I go down for at least an hour or more. What can I tell you? I can't hold my liquor.

The bartender asked me, dryly, "Emmet! What can I get you, the usual?"

I shook my head, still out of it, "No, Chester. I'm going to need something stronger."

He looked at me and asked, "Sarsaparilla?"

I shook my head again and stated, "Whiskey, Chester."

Chester eyed me worriedly and responded, "Whiskey...Emmett, are you sure? You know what happened to you on the fourth of July..."

I demanded, "Whiskey, Chester."

Chester admitted pouring me a small glass, "Okay, I ain't your papa. I just don't want to see you...losing the whole thing."

I said stopping Chester, "You can leave the bottle."

"It's a woman, right? I knew it! I have seen that look on a man's face a thousand times, all across the country. Well I can tell you, friend. You'll get over her," a old man with a beard said kindly.

"Oh-ho. Clara was one in a million. One in a billion. One in a googolplex. The woman of my dreams and I lost her for all time," I said staring blankly ahead.

"I can assure you, sir, there are other women. I have peddled this barbed wire all across the country, and it has taught me one thing for certain. It's that you never know what the future might bring," the bearded man continued.

"Oh-ho...the future, I can tell you about the future," I cried ignoring everything the man said after the future.

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Wishmaker1028: Aw, poor Doc... Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!